Sawing machine

ABSTRACT

A portable sawing machine having a sawing table and hinged saw guide tracks adapted to movably retain a normally hand-held, portable, motor-driven saw thereon for rapid and precise angular cross-cutting of workpieces placed on the table.

Unite Price States Patent 91 51 May 1,1973

[ SAWING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Ira Emmet Price, 13606 Emery Avenue,Cleveland, Ohio 44135 [22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 77,566

[52] US. Cl. ..83/47l.3, 83/473, 83/489,

83/581, 83/859 [51] Int. Cl ..B27b 5/20, 1327b 9/04 [58] Field of Search..143/6 E, 66, 6.1,

143/43 E, 47 F, 132 A, 132 B, 89, 89 A, 169; 83/4713, 473, 489, 581, 859

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,91 1,017 Holder ..l43/6 E3,021,881 2/1962 Edgemond, Jr. et al. 143/132 B X 2,704,092 3/ 1955Green 143/6 G 1,700,189 l/1929 Wikstrom 3,130,758 4/1964 McKinley2,810,412 10/1957 Roug ..143/6 E Primary Examiner-Andrew R. JuhaszAssistant Examiner-James F. Coan Attorneyl(enneth G. Preston, Jr.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A portable sawing machine having a sawing table andhinged saw guide tracks adapted to movably retain a normally hand-held,portable, motor-driven saw thereon for rapid and precise angularcross-cutting of workpieces placed on the table.

3 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 3,730,042

'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 1, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 hm (hm PatentedMay 1, 1973 3,730,042

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 1, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 4- m f H w mPatented May 1, 1973 3,730,042

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patenied May 1, 1973 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IIIHHII MIMPatented May 1, 1973 3,730,042

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 SAWING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention pertains to the field of sawing opera- FIG. 6 is a perspectiveview of a section of the bedplate.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the underside of the bedplate.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the machine less the tions and comprisesa portable sawing table, saw tracks saw and miter ways and showing asmall table projectand guides, and related accessories and componentsfor a portable, job-site sawing machine for quickly and accuratelysawing material. An example of the use of such a machine would be inaluminum siding applications for home construction.

This invention is an improvement in the circular saw guide firstinvented and described by me in my U.S. Pat. No. 2,8 l8,892 granted Jan.7,1958.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The sawing machine described herein comprises asawing table for supporting a workpiece, and a bedplate secured beneaththe sawing table to slideably support a portable saw guide frame. Theguide frame may be quickly positioned and locked in place with respectto the sawing table and bedplate for repetitive angular cuts ofworkpieces.

Particular objects and features of the invention disclosed hereininclude increased accuracy, safety and efficiency in sawing operationsby virtue of improved workpiece locating, measuring and angle cuttingmeans. Another feature is a protractor constructed to mechanicallymeasure and communicate angles to the saw guide, rather than as commonlypracticed with a tape measure, a pencil and try square; and miter waysand clamps to lock the angles so communicated into the machine.

A further object and feature is centering plates created to maintain arigid centering and parallelization of pivoting members, and dragcontrol in pivoting the sawing guide horizontally. Still another objectis the provision of saw tracks, hinged and automatically counterbalancedto lift them out of the way of work preparation on the sawing table;preparation such as marking, scoring, stacking and positioning.

Another feature is providing replacable fences located at the back edgeof the sawing table, held firmly in place yet easily and quickly removedand replaced when damaged by handling and sawing. Still anotherobjective is an extensible table instantly projectable from theunderside of the machine to support, measure, abut and secure workpiecesin position for cutting.

A further and major object is portability; major units are articulatedfor simple, fast and easy loading and unloading, easily and quickly setup and struck and moved from location to location on the job, and movedfrom job to job.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a front elevational view ofthe machine, showing a portable power saw mounted on the tracks.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, less the power saw.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view including the power saw, but withoutthe extensible table.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pivot plate bolted to the underside ofthe sawing table.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tumplate welded intermediate the endsof the frame bars supporting the tracks.

ing laterally from the edge of the sawing table, designed to supportwork wider than the sawing table.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cantilever construction of the footof the tracks and frame of the saw guide supporting the tracks.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tracks and frame, the sawing tableand bedplate and featuring the saw guide clamping arm connecting theguide with the clamping ways.

FIG. 1 1 is a plan view of the extensible table.

FIG. I2 is an elevational side view of the extensible table.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the double-T protractor.

FIG. 14 is an elevational side view of the protractor.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a clamping means attached to thebedplate for locking the extensible table.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring in detail to FIGS. 1through 4, the numeral 1 indicates a sawing table having parallel anglebars 3 and 3A with horizontal flanges 33 extending inwardly, spanned atintervals by shallow rectangular aluminum channel beams 2. The ends ofthe beams 2 are welded or otherwise affixed to the inwardly extendingflanges 3B of bars 3 and 3A. Both sides of the table frame arestrengthened by the attachment of angle bars 6 and 6A in support of bars3 and 3A, FIGS. 3 and 4. The adjacent vertical and horizontal flanges ofbars 3 and 6, and the horizontal flanges of bars 3A and 6A are securedby bolts or welding; whereas the vertical flanges of bars 3A and 6A arespaced apart enough to form a channel to receive rectangular plates ofeasily sawable material designated as fences 5. These fences arenecessary for the alignment of work to be sawed as will be discussedhereinafter. The vertical flanges of bars 3A and 6A serve as elongatedjaws of a clamp with bolts (not shown) piercing them at requiredintervals as a means of holding the fences 5 in a firm grip against theimpact of workpieces positioned on the table against them, and to permiteasy removal and replacement of the fences when they become damaged.

Channel beams 2 are fitted with inlays 7, such as rectangular blocks ofwood placed between the upwardly directed sides or flanges of the beams,and held with brads driven into them through holes pierced in the beamflanges. The beams and inlays and their supporting frame form a sawingtable with an upper inlay surface which can be cut into and through withlittle adverse effect on the teeth of saw blades. The beams are spacedapart far enough to make easy the clearing of any embedment oraccumulation of chips, shavings or particles that may abrade and mar theworkpieces supported thereon.

Aluminum angle support bars 9 located directly beneath and parallel tothe sawing table are bolted to the table at one end through a number oftransversely positioned rectangular spacer blocks 8. The other ends ofthe bars 9 are free to support a bedplate 10.

The bedplate 10 may be a laminate cored with a tempered hard board, thetop sheet of the laminate having a high antifriction coefficiency. Otherlightweight materials having low coefficients of friction could be used.

Considering FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 to be exploded perspective views of alignedparts, the sawing table is provided with an apertured pivot plate 11secured to the underside thereof. Bedplate has a pair of apertured metalblocks 13 (one shown) attached to each other through the bedplate whichis similarly apertured. The aperture in underside block 13 is threaded.Positioned between the pivot plate and bedplate for relative rotationtherewith is an apertured turnplate 12 secured to saw guide 35. Theturnplate is attached intermediate the ends of saw guide frame members43 to be described in detail hereinafter.

When assembled, the apertures in pivot plate 11, turnplate 12, bedplate10 and blocks 13 are aligned and a bolt (not shown) is passedtherethrough and secured in threaded block 13. This simple arrangementof parts provides means for pivoting turnplate 12 and its associated sawguide frame with respect to the bedplate and table unobstructed throughits designed arc of rotation. The bolt provides means for maintainingthe centering rigidity required for all horizontal positions of theguide frame between the sawing table and bedplate. Both the pivot plateand frame members 43 attached to the turnplate are provided with plasticblocks or shoes to facilitate relative sliding of the plates 10, 11 and12.

On the underside of bedplate 10, aluminum or other lightweight channels16 and 19 are secured, FIG. 7, serving as ribs along with bars 9 tostiffen the bedplate and keep it rigidly flat and parallel to the sawingtable. Channels 19 also provide means of attachment for theundercarriage of the sawing machine as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7.The undercarriage is constructed of tubular legs 50 and leg braces 21detachably and swingably hinged by bolts 20, 20A to angle bars 9 andchannels 19. Legs 50 may be clamped to an appropriate wheel and axleassembly by pyramid tube clamp 15 for which I made application forpatent, Ser. No. 109,676.

Channel 16 is equipped with pairs of idlers 17 providing roller supportfor angle bars 18. Parallel bars 18 form rails of an extensible tableframe, FIGS. 1, 3, 7, 11 and 12.

The extensible table is supported by an elongated rectangular frameconstructed of angle bars 18 held parallel with block spacers 22. Thevertical flange of angle bars 18 is double the width of the horizontalflange and extends downwardly to supply the vertical strength needed tokeep the bars straight and parallel with the ground when the table isloaded with work and fully extended. The horizontal flanges of the barsextend inwardly and serve as rails supporting the frame as it rides toand fro on the idlers 17, FIG. 7.

The extensible table, FIGS. 11 and 12, is mounted on two angle posts 23projecting upward from the corners of frame bars 18 and compriseschannel bars 24 and 24A welded on the underside to a plate 25. A portionof plate 25 projects from under the bars to form a shelf. The other endsof bars 24, 24A are hinged to posts 23 by pin'26 so that they may beadjusted up and down by bolts 26A to maintain plate 25 in line with thesurface of the sawing table. Thus the right-hand end of a workpiece, asmight be viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, would be supported by plate 25 and inabutment with the ends of bars 24, 24A.

To ensure professional accuracy in measuring work with the extensibletable, a steel tape measure (not shown) is secured to the top of oneangle bar 18. The tape measure is complemented by an adjustableindicator 16A attached pivotally to a shelf formed by the end of channelbar 16, and a clamping means 28, FIGS. 7 and 15, attached to channel bar9, and designed to lock the extensible table to channel bar 16.

Clamp 28 for locking the extensible table frame member 18 to thebedplate, FIG. 15, comprises an angle section 28A affixed to bar 9pivotally supporting a swivel lock 28B. Block 28C is also secured toangle 28A, and has a threaded aperture receiving locking bolt 28D inline with the swivel lock. It may be readily understood that turningbolt 28D into engagement with swivel 288 will cause the swivel 28B torotate into locking engagement with bar 18.

The tape measure is located on the bar 18 such that the measure readingopposite indicator 16A corresponds to the distance from the saw blade tothe abutment ends of bars 24, 24A. Accordingly, when a workpiece of aparticular length is desired, the extensible table is extended until thetape measure reading corresponding to the desired length is opposite theindicator. The table is then locked in place by clamp 28, a workpieceplaced on the sawing table in abutment with bar ends 24, 24A, and thepiece is ready to be sawed.

When it is desired to cut workpieces with very shallow angles, say 15,bars 24, 24A of the extensible table may interfere with the saw guide.Yet workpiece supporting and abutment means are necessary to properlylocate and secure the piece during cutting. Accordingly, a channel bar29 is hinged to the butt end of channel 24A, FIGS. 11 and 12. g t

Welded to the underside of bar 24A is a rectangular aluminum plate 30projecting for half of its length to form a shelf, the butt end ofthe-bar serving to abut work against the angular pull of high R.P.M. sawblades when cutting extremely shallow angles, thus preventing damage toand destruction of work, injury to the operator and costly scrapping ofmaterial. The hinging of bar 29 permits the operator to swing it up andout of the way to clear the extensible table for normal functioning.

As mentioned hereinabove, turnplate 12 is attached to frame bars 43 of asaw guide 35 so as to permit rotation of the guide relative to thesawing table 1 and bedplate 10. Guide 35 includes an underframecomprising bars 43, crosspieces 42 and, at one end, upright supportposts 27A and pivot bolts 27 for pivotally supporting parallel guidetracks 35 and track beds 36,

FIGS. 2, 3, 8, 9, 10. The other ends of the tracks 35 and beds 36 arejoined by hinge plate 37A and hub 37. The

hub and hinge plate rest upon cradles 38 and 38A proment along thetracks by any suitable means such as described in my aforementioned US.Pat. No. 2,818,892.

Saw guide 35 is located with respect to pivot pins 27 so that when thesaw is docked at the right end of the guide, approximately as shown inFIG. 3, the weight of the saw counterbalances the saw guide to permitthe guide to be raised, as shown in dotted lines, and to be safely heldin substantially perpendicular position until returned to cradles 38,38A by the operator. This permits the operator to freely maneuverworkpieces on the sawing table.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 10, it will be noted that table 1 is providedon one, side with clamping ways 32. A guide rod or arm 31, pivotallyattached at one end to guide underframe member 43, has clamp 31A affixedto the other end and carried by ways 32 for selectively clamping alongways 32. Movable clamps 33 and 34 are also carried by the ways toprovide suitable abutments for limiting the rotative movement of the sawguide with respect to the sawing table, it being remembered that thepivot plate 11, turnplate 12 and bedplate 12 are rotatablyinterconnected, FIGS. 4, 5, 6.

In the usual instance, clamp 33 would be so located that the saw guidetracks are perpendicular to the sawing table when clamp 31A is inabutment with clamp 33, FIG. 2. Clamp 34, on the other hand, would beplaced to abut clamp 31A when the saw guide is rotated to somepredetermined cutting angle.

Because of the speed at which the saw guide must be pivoted horizontallyto keep pace with the application of work and because of the concomitantneed to operate at this speed with safety and to prevent clamping block31A, FIG. at the end of connecting rod 31 from slamming into the otherclamping blocks in the clamping ways and jolting them out of adjustment,an even drag is incorporated in and applied to the movement of the sawguide by means of plastic shoes in the form of rectangular blocks 14attached to pivot plate 11, FIG. 4 and augmented by like shoes 14attached to the underside of saw guide frame rails 43, FIG. 5. The dragmay be increased or decreased, according to the wishes of the operator,by merely tightening or loosening the pivot bolt connecting plates 10, ll, 12.

For use in quickly and accurately adjusting the appropriate angle ofcutting, for example aluminum siding to fit a sloping roof line orgable, the machine is equipped with a unique articulated protractor,FIGS. 13 and 14.

The halves of the protractor broadly represent Ts" in that theirvertical portions 43A taper inwardly from their long double flanges 44formed from the widest edges of vertical portions 43A and represent thesuperior bars of T's. The Ts so formed are secured to each otherintermediate their flanges and the edges opposite the said flangesthrough transverse holes in portions 43A, by a pivot bolt 45. The boltis placed through an orificed rectangular block 46, both members 43A,two washers 4'7 and 48 and threaded into a rectangular knob 49. Bothwashers are countersunk, with washer 47 being larger than washer 48.Thus the smaller end of washer 48 and its tapered surface may be seatedin the smaller end of washer 47. Rotated clockwise, the knob 49 andwashers become a broadly based clamping means sufficient to hold anglesobtained by the protractor against extremely rough handling.

In application of aluminum siding, it is only necessary to align thebottom flange 44 with a horizontal edge of siding on a house, adjust theother flange 44 against or parallel to the roof line, and clamp theprotractor halves in this position. The angle may then be directlycommunicated or relayed to the sawing machine by placing one flange 44against the fence 5 of the sawing table, and swinging the saw guideagainst or in line with the other flange.

Thus the protractor will take a roof pitch directly from a gable andtransfer it directly to the saw guide with little or no possibility oferror in the transmission, reducing the time ordinarily consumed by thisoperation approximately 50 per cent. Clamps 33 and 34 also make itsimple to cut two angles in a single piece of work with one lockingoperation, a time and work saver in cutting siding to fit gables.

Iclaim:

ll. In a sawing machine, the combination of a table member having a worksupporting surface, a base plate affixed beneath the table member, a sawguide rotatable with respect to said table and plate including a baseframe slideably carried on the base plate and connected for rotation bya single pivot pin and a saw track supported by the base frame above thetable for supporting and guiding a power saw during cutting strokes atpredetermined angles, said base plate and table member being ofcantilever construction to permit easy removal of the saw guide from theopen side thereof, said table member having ways mounted thereon, aguide arm attached at one end to the saw guide and, at its other end,slideably received along said ways, and adjustable stops on said waysproviding abutments for said guide arm and attached saw guidecorresponding to preselected saw guide positions relative to the table.

2. The machine according to claim 1 wherein the guide arm, adjustablestop and ways may be positioned to permit sawing along any angular linewithin of perpendicular with the table in one direction from theperpendicular.

3. In a sawing machine, the combination of a table member having a worksupporting surface, a base plate affixed beneath the table member, and asaw guide rotatable with respect to said table and plate including abase frame slideably carried on the base plate and connected forrotation by a single pivot pin and a saw track supported by the baseframe above the sawing table for supporting and guiding a power sawduring cutting strokes at predetermined angles, said base plate andtable member being of cantilever construction to permit easy removal ofthe saw guide from the open side thereof, said saw guide and tablehaving portions proximate the pivot axis provided with shoes for slidingcontact with the others of guide, table and bedplate, and wherein therelative slideability of the guide, table and bedplate may be enhancedor reduced by loosening or tightening, respectively, the pivotconnection.

1. In a sawing machine, the combination of a table member having a work supporting surface, a base plate affixed beneath the table member, a saw guide rotatable with respect to said table and plate including a base frame slideably carried on the base plate and connected for rotation by a single pivot pin and a saw track supported by the base frame above the table for supporting and guiding a power saw during cutting strokes at predetermined angles, said base plate and table member being of cantilever construction to permit easy removal of the saw guide from the open side thereof, said table member having ways mounted thereon, a guide arm attached at one end to the saw guide and, at its other end, slideably received along said ways, and adjustable stops on said ways providing abutments for said guide arm and attached saw guide corresponding to preselected saw guide positions relative to the table.
 2. The machine according to claim 1 wherein the guide arm, adjustable stop and ways may be positioned to permit sawing along any angular line within 75* of perpendicular with the table in one direction from the perpendicular.
 3. In a sawing machine, the combination of a table member having a work supporting surface, a base plate affixed beneath the table member, and a saw guide rotatable with respect to said table and plate including a base frame slideably carried on the base plate and connected for rotation by a single pivot pin and a saw track supported by the base frame above the sawing table for supporting and guiding a power saw during cutting strokes at predetermined angles, said base plate and table member being of cantilever construction to permit easy removal of the saw guide from the open side thereof, said saw guide and table having portions proximate the pivot axis provided with shoes for sliding contact with the others of guide, table and bedplate, and wherein the relative slideability of the guide, table and bedplate may be enhanced or reduCed by loosening or tightening, respectively, the pivot connection. 